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Police drop charges of spreading hatred in Ahok case
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All ready – Brig. Gen. Agus Andrianto, the general crimes director at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (center, left) hands over Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s case dossier to prosecutor Ali Mukartono from the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) in Jakarta on Nov.25. (JP/Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)
T
he police have announced that they will only charge Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama with blasphemy, not spreading hatred.
(Read also: Ahok named suspect in blasphemy case)
Ahok was earlier charged under the blasphemy article in the Criminal Code and spreading hatred article in the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law related to his statement about a verse in the Quran that was videotaped and uploaded onto social media.
"Ahok didn't spread the video on the internet. Investigators from the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) didn't find any violation of the ITE law during the investigation," National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said on Friday.
In light of that, the police removed the ITE law violation charge from Ahok's case dossier, which was submitted to the Attorney General’s Office on Friday morning, Rikwanto said.
Ahok was earlier charged under Article 156 of the Criminal Code regarding blasphemy and Article 28 (2) of the ITE law concerning the spreading of information sparking sectarian hatred.
A video of Ahok making the statement went viral after private university lecturer Buni Yani uploaded it onto his Facebook account along with an incorrect transcription and commentary.
The video triggered outcry among Muslim conservatives.
On Nov. 4, tens of thousands of people, led by conservative Muslim groups, staged a rally in front of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta demanding that the government prosecute Ahok.
Police named Buni a suspect on Wednesday for allegedly spreading hatred according to Article 28 (2) of the ITE law. (jun)
